Запретный лес

           "SheisnowattherighthandoftheThrone,"hesaid,"andIsaythatinthefaceofeveryministerthateverpervertedtheWord.ShewasmadeintheimageofherLord,andshehasgonetomeetHim."

           LaterintheeveningthemindofthepracticalMistressGrizelturnedtothedismalapparatusofdeath."She’llbetterlieinCauldshawintheHawkshawburyin’ground.There’sroomintheauldvault,themairasit’snolikelyNicholaswilllayhisbanesthere."

           "Nay,butshewillnotlieinCauldshaw."David’sfacehadastrangecalminitandhisvoicewastonelessandsteady."Shewillheinthepartofthegreenwoodwhichwasherown,intheplaceshecalledParadise.Iknowherwishesasifshehadtoldthemtome.Iwillnothaveherlaidinanykirkyardvault....Sheistooyoung....Sheisnotdeadbutsleeping."

           MistressGrizelprotested,buthalf-heartedly.Mr.Fordycehadlittleobjectiontoraise."ItisnotthewayofourKirk,"hesaid,"toconsecrategroundforthedead.AllearthishallowedwhichreceivesChristiandust.Butlestthegravesofthedepartedbeforgotten,ithasbeenthecustomtogatherthemtogetherinsomespotunderthekirk’sshadow.Inawildwood,amongbrackenandstones,itwillbeilltokeepmindofaplaceofsepulchre."

           "Iwillnotforgetit."

           "Butwhenyouyourselfaredeadandgone...?"

           "Whatmattersitthen?"Hecouldhavelaughedatthemeaninglessnessofhumanfashions.HefeltthatKatrineandhewereinasphereoftheirown,safeforeverfromintrusion,asphereindependentoftimeandspace,evenoflifeanddeath